Firing mechanism



R. P. LANSING FIRING MECHANISM Nav. 14, 1933.

Filed Sept. 23, 1952' INVENTOR. Raymond F Lays/n7 Away Y Li.

Patented Nov. 14, 1933 STATES ATEN FIRING IVIECHANISM of New JerseyApplication September 23, 1932 Serial No. 634,617

4 Claims. (CL -44) This invention relates to firing mechanism, and moreparticularly to firing mechanism of the type adapted to fire in sequencea plurality of cartridges containing slow-burning powder, or othermedium. such as compressed carbon dioxide, convertible into a gas whichcan be used as a motive fluid.

An object of the invention is to provide novel firing mechanism of theforegoing character embodying features of construction which render thedevice readily applicable to the work of starting an internal combustionengine, either by direct action upon one or more of the pistons of suchan engine. or through an intermediate starting motor of the expansiblechamber type. The invention, however, is not to be regarded as limitedto such a use alone, in view of its obviously wide range of usefulnessas a servo-mot tor actuating means.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel control means for acartridge firing mechanism of the foregoing character, including meansfor insuring the attainment of a predetermined pressure prior to therelease of the motor fluid generated upon firing one of the cartridges,said control means further functioning to fire a second cartridgewhenever necessary in order to insure the maintenance of a predeterminedminimum pressure at all times in a pressure fluid reservoir.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a mechanism of theforegoing character, novel means for preventing a premature admission ofpressure fluid to the starter or other fluid motor to be operated. Inthis connection, a feature of the invention is the provision of a pairof sequentially operating valves, one of which is manually controlledand the other of which is pressure controlled whereby the latter rendersthe former ineffective until the development of a predetermined pressurein the reservoir.

In the preferred embodiment, as herein shown, the cartridge containertakes the form of a multi-chambered barrel, rotatable automatically,step-by-step, to bring the cartridges successively into position forrelease of the pressure generating medium therein. It is to beunderstood however that the drawings are for the purpose of iilustrationonly, both with respect to this particu lar feature, and others, and arenot designed as a definition of the limits of the invention. Referencewill accordingly be had to the appended claims for a definition of suchlimits, and to the following specification for an understanding of otherobjects of the invention. The description is to be read with referenceto the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation, with certain parts in section, of thesystem embodying the invention; I

Fig. 2 is a transverse view of one of the elements, partly in section,taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and j Fig. 3 is a view in elevationof a second embodiment. f

Heretofore in fluid pressure operated engine starters of the type inwhich the fluid premure is attained by the generation of gases createdby the firing of a cartridge, it has been proposed to interpose areservoir between the starter and the cartridge firing means so as topermit a building up of pressure in said reservoir before the release ofpressure fluid to the starter, and thus insure against the possibilityof a premature delivery to the starter of a charge insufficient toproduce effective starting of the engine to be cranked, and also toafiord an opportunity forfiring a second cartridge to augment the first;the delivery of the combined charge to the starter thereafter followingsuch pressure increment. The present invention adds to a system of theforegoing character the provision of means for automatically firing suchadditional cartridge or cartridges (or actuating any other type ofpressure releasing means, in the event that capsules containingcompressed carbon dioxide or other suitable substances are employedinstead of cartridges containing combustible powder) to bring thepressure in the reservoir above the predetermined minimum prior todelivery of a charge to the engine starting mechanism. In addition toprovision of the means just referred to for maintaining a predeterminedminimum pressure in the reservoir, the invention also discloses a.multiple valve control which may be used, if desired, to make itimpossible for the operator to cause a premature application of pressureto the starting mechanism.

Referring to the drawing, the invention is shown embodied in a unitarystructure in which the major parts include a cartridge holding magazineor barrel 6, a firing mechanism 7, a pressure receiving chamber orreservoir 8, and a link mechanism 9 for actuating the mechanism 7 inresponse to a decrease in pressure in the reservoir 8. 3

The parts just described are suitably located with respect to the motorto be actuated, a portion of the housing of which is indicated at 12 ascontaining a piston 13 connecting with the crankshaft or equivalentmember of the engine to be started in the usual manner, and forming nopart of the present invention; the piston being movable in the cylinder12 in response to pressure admitted thereto through the conduit 14 uponoperation of rod 15 connected to the valve 16, the latter being normallyheld in the closed position indicated, by the action of a tension spring20 anchored at one end to the valve casing and connecting at itsopposite end with the rod 15 by suitable means 25, the pressure fluidthus admitted being exhausted by suitable means, such as indicated at 17when the piston approaches the end of its working stroke, and prior toreturn of the piston to its normal position by suitable means, such asthe usual return spring (not shown).

The cartridge containing barrel 6 is preferably housed in a frame 18having a tubular extension 19 in which there is provided an excesspressure relief valve 21, a one-way ball check valve 22 retained inplace by a perforated baflle plate or grid 23, the second function ofwhich is to prevent the passage of any unburned particles entrained withthe gases generated on firing of the cartridge, while permitting freepassage of the non-solid portion of the charge.

The cartridge containing barrel 6 is provided with any suitable numberof chambers 26, all preferably disposed at equal radial distances fromthe axis of the spindle 2'7 projecting from the end portion 28 of theframe 18, and constituting a supporting pivot about which the barrel isrevolved step-by-step. Such feeding is preferably effected by a pawl orfinger 31 pivotally mounted at one end of a bell crank 32 having asecond arm 33 pivotally connected to the link 9 for a purpose to befurther described; the bell crank 32 being in turn pivotally mounted ona suitable pivot pin 34 secured to, or integral with, the frame 18. Thepawl or finger 31 is normally held by a suitable spring 37 in engagementwith one of the several ratchet teeth 38 formed at equal intervals onthe end surface of the projecting portion 39 of the barrel 6, while asecond pawl 41, also pivotally mounted at the end of arm 32, normallyengages a shoulder 43 on a disc 44 pivotally mounted on a pin 46,secured to frame 18, and having a hammer head 47 adapted to engage andactuate the firing pin '7 previously described.

A spring 49 normally holds the pawl 41 in the position indicated while athird spring 51 normally holds the bell crank 32, 33 in the positionindicated. A fourth spring 54 acts to normally hold the member 44 in theposition shown, and to return said member to such position after it hasbeen oscillated in a clockwise direction by actuation of the link 9 inthe manner to be described. A spring 59 normally holds the firing pinout of contact with the cartridges 61 in the chambers 26, and aspring-pressed detent 62 insures proper registry of the chambers 26 withthe conduit 19 and thus offsets the effect of any play in the linkagewhich actuates the member 6.

The novel means for actuating the feeding and cartridge firing meansjust described, preferably takes the form of a tubular valve 63 having ahead 64, the inner surface of which is of conical formation adapted toregister with a correspondingly counterbored conical seat 66 in atubular plug 6'7 threadedly received in the wall of the reservoir 8, asindicated at 68, and drilled as indicated at 69 to provide a vent fromthe interior of the valve 63 which houses a coiled compression spring'71 constantly exerting a. pressure to open the valve 64 against thepressure in the reservoir which tends to hold it seated; the size andsetting of the spring '71 thus predetermining the minimum pressure whichwill be sufiicient to prevent an opening of the valve 64. The stem '73of the valve extends through the plug 6'7 and is turned at its outer endfor engagement with the forked arm '76 of the bell crank '77, the latterbeing pivotally mounted on a pin '78 extending from a bracket '79depending from the plug 67 and also pivotally connected to the link 9 asindicated at 81 in Fig. 1.

As above suggested, means may be employed for inter-relating themanually operable valve 16 previously described with the valve 64whereby premature operation of the valve 16 will be of no effect. Asshown, such means may take the form of a third valve 83, of smallereffective area than the valve 64, but directly connected with said valve64 through the intermediate rod 84 shown as integral with the valve head83 and threaded at its lower end into a correspondingly threaded bore inthe upper surface of valve 64, the length of the rod 84 being such thatupon movement of the valve 64 to the open position, valve 83 will seatitself in the conical counterbore 86 formed in the lower surface of thecentrally bored plug 87 threadedly received in the upper wall of thetank 8, and provided at its upper end with a coupling 89 serving for theattachment of the first section of the conduit 14.

Having thus described the parts entering into the preferred embodimentof the invention as shown, the operation thereof will be seen to be asfollows:

So long as the pressure in the reservoir 8 exceeds the predeterminedminimum, the valve remains in the position indicated in full lines inFig. 1, and the barrel-turning and cartridge firing parts also remain inthe positions indicated in Fig. 1. If it is now desired to actuate thepiston 13 to start the engine, the valve 16 is opened and fluid in thereservoir 8 is thus permitted to pass through the conduit 14 to actuatethe piston 13. In the event that the amount of pressure fluid thuspassing through the conduit 14 prior to the, return of the valve 16 tothe closed position depletes the pressure in the reservoir 8 below thepredetermined amount, the spring '11 becomes effective to raise thevalve 64 into the position indicated in dash lines, thus swinging thebell crank '76, '7'7 and 32, 33 in a counterclockwise direction,whereupon arm 31 is effective to rotate barrel 6 through an arc ofsubstantially degrees, with the arrangement of the cartridge chambers asshown. At the same time the arm 41 swings disc 44 in a clockwisedirection thus withdrawing the trigger 47 from contact with pin '7, suchoscillation continuing until the disc causes the inclined projection 94thereon to disengage the arm 41 from the shoulder 43. At this point, thespring 54 becomes effective to snap the disc 44 back to the positionindicated in Fig. 1 and at the same time cause the hammer 47 to strike ablow upon the pin '7, which hammer-blow is in turn imparted to thecartridge 51 and is effective to fire the charge therein. The gases thusgenerated pass through the conduit 19 and raise the pressure in thereservoir, thus reopening valve 83 and closing the valve 64, andreturning the linkage to the position shown in Fig. 1; the returnoscillation of the bell crank 32, 33 being facilitated by the action ofthe spring 51. In the event that the pressure in the reservoir 8 againfalls short of the predetermined minimum, spring 71 again acts to openthe valve 64 and through the linkage above described causes a secondcartridge to be brought into firing position and fired, the cycle beingrepeated whenever the pressure becomes insufiicient to hold the valve 64closed. As a supplemental firing means, there may be provided a cable 93connected to the arm 33 of the bell crank 32.

There is thus disclosed a structure which embodies the features ofadvantage above recited, and attains the objects above specified, aswell as possessing considerable practical merit in other obviousrespects which persons skilled in the art will recognize as inherent inthe mechanism disclosed.

It is to be understood however, that the invention is not to beconstrued as limited to the precise structure and relationship of partsshown in any respect wherein the appended claims are not specificthereto. Thus, for example, in place of the barrel 6 shown in Figs. 1and 2, a cartridge feeding belt 91 such as that shown in Fig. 3, may beemployed. Likewise other changes, substitutions and omissions may bemade within the scope of the broadest of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the class described, in combination with an explosionchamber and a pressure fiuid reservoir connected with said explosionchamber, means for firing an explosive charge in said explosion chamber,means synchronized with said firing means for bringing said explosivecharge into firing position, and means controlled by the pressure insaid reservoir for actuating both said positioning and firing means.

2. In a device of the class described, in combination with an explosionchamber and a pressure fluid reservoir connected with said explosionchamber, means for firing an explosive charge in said explosion chamber,means synchronized with said firing means for bringing said explosivecharge into firing position, and means controlled by the pressure insaid reservoir for actuating both said positioning and firing means,said last named means comprising an actuating linkage one end of whichconnects with said firing means and the other end of which extends intosaid reservoir and is movable by the pressure therein.

3. In a device of the class described, in combination, a power receivingchamber, a power developing chamber, a reservoir interposed between saidchambers, a valve for controlling communication between said first namedchamber and said reservoir, means for firing a charge in said powerdeveloping chamber, means movable with said valve for actuating saidfiring means, and means synchronized with said firing means for bringingsaid power developing chamber into firing position.

4. In a device of the class described, in combination, a power receivingchamber a power developing chamber, a reservoir interposed between saidchambers, pressure responsive means for controlling communicationbetween said first named chamber and said reservoir, means for firingthe charge to said power developing chamber, said last named means beingactuated by said pressure responsive means, and means synchronized withsaid firing means for bringing said power developing chamber into firingposition.

RAYMOND P. LANSING.

